OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who has sung Donald Trump’s praises for years, said on Monday he would oppose his effort to win back the presidency next year if he picks his former UN ambassador and GOP rival Nikki Haley to be his running mate.
During a live discussion hosted by “Timcast” podcaster Tim Pool at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, the host asked Carlson, “Would you vote for Trump if he chose Nikki as VP?”
Carlson, whose name has been mentioned as a potential Trump running mate as well, responded: “I would not only not vote for that ticket, I would advocate against it as strongly as I could.”
“That’s just poison. I mean, here’s someone who’s actively opposed to the interests of the country I grew up in, who endorsed the BLM riots, and who is not left but is neoliberal in the darkest, most – speaking of nihilist – nihilistic way, and has no real popular support, is a creature of the oligarchs,” he continued. “So yeah, that would be– that would be reason to oppose the ticket.
WATCH:
Tucker says he would 'advocate against' Trump election if he picks Haley has his running mate. pic.twitter.com/u2EVgmHXb3
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) December 19, 2023
Last week, Carlson finally responded to rumors that Trump was considering him to be his 2024 running mate.
The response comes after Axios reported last week that former First Lady Melania Trump was lobbying her husband to choose Carlson, and Trump indicated on the “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton” show that he would be open to the idea.
“Here’s an interesting twist: Melania Trump is an advocate for picking Tucker Carlson, the booted Fox News star. She thinks Carlson would make a powerful onstage extension of her husband, a source close to Trump told us. The former first lady has made few campaign appearances this time around, but a Trump-Carlson ticket might encourage her to hit the trail,” Axios reported.
Axios added, “However, many people close to Trump have dismissed the idea of Tucker Carlson because they believe he would never choose someone who could surpass him. And Trump’s staff is convinced (correctly) that Carlson can’t be controlled. But the two men talk a lot.”
“I like Tucker a lot; I guess I would,” Trump told Travis and Sexton. “I think I’d say I would because he’s got great common sense. You know, when they say that you guys are conservative, or I’m conservative — it’s not that we’re conservative; we have common sense. We want to have safe borders. We want to have a wall because walls work.”
But it appears that Carlson isn’t really on board.
“Well, it’s just– it’s just so unimaginable,” Carlson told SiriusXM and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly on Monday. “I mean, I haven’t led a life that prepares a person for politics. As I said, I don’t think I have any like horrible skeletons or anything. It’s not that, it’s just that that’s not how my brain works. I’ve never done anything like that. I can’t imagine spending time with politicians.”
He continued: “I’m a total sucker for Trump. I think he’s – you know, personally, I get along with Trump really well. The closer I am physically to Trump, like if I’m with him in the room, I always love Trump and I think it’s impossible not to, and you know the experience. He’s just charming.”
“Yeah,” replied Kelly.
“And he’s funny as hell, and he’s brave in his way, I think. So I really appreciate that, and I agree fundamentally with his views,” Carlson continued. “You know, maybe fewer wars, maybe have a border, like those are not crazy things, and I support them, and I’m appalled and terrified by the use of the DOJ to rig an election, which is what’s happening now, so all those factors make me kind of psyched to vote for Trump.
“But serving in politics with anybody, I mean, that’s just– that’s a– it’s a lot for me to think about because I just don’t think I’m really suited for that. Would anyone want to see a guy like me run for office?” Carlson asked.
“Yes!” Kelly exclaimed before concluding, “You’re not gonna end your life without having been probably president, maybe vice president.”
